Drive by Truckers’ anthems blend rockin’ music with haunting lyrics
As an 8-year-old boy growing up in Alabama, Patterson Hood did things that most kids that age don’t, such as writing songs and paying attention to politics — though he wasn’t always rewarded for being ahead of the curve.
“In third grade we were told to write a paper on Watergate,” recalled the Drive-By Truckers songwriter during a recent phone interview. “Most kids thought it was about Wilson Dam (in northern Alabama). I would say, ‘No, no. It’s about Nixon and breaking into Democratic Party headquarters …
“My teacher sent a letter home to my parents saying that maybe I was watching too much news,” Hood said.
But isn’t that a good thing?
“Not in Alabama, not then,” Hood laughed.
Besides being a political junkie, it’s music that has always been in Hood’s southern blood. Not only does he hail from the Shoals region of Alabama — an area famous for its contributions to popular music — he is also the son of bassist David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section — who helped produce songs for the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Cher and others.
“I was always aware as a kid of what he did and was pretty amazed by it,” Hood said.
But Patterson Hood’s sound is all his own. This Tuesday, Hood and his fellow Drive By Truckers will bring their hearty southern anthems, complemented by a “three-axe attack” of electric guitars, back to Santa Fe. This time, the band will play Santa Fe Brewing Company, a good fit for their raucous outlaw sound.
“I like playing in front of people who are drinking and raising hell,” said Hood.
Since forming in 1996, the prolific southern rockers have released eight albums, all of which have been lauded by critics as ambitious nods to their southern roots that blend haunting, personal lyrics about everything from drunks to criminals, drug use to poverty. DBT isn’t just about blasting your head full of guitars, bass and drums. Their music is a commentary on the history of the American South.
Fans heading to the Brewing Company on Tuesday will hear an all-electric performance.
“Last year was an acoustic show,” Hood said of the band’s 2007’s Dirt Underneath tour, featuring stripped-down performances that emphasized stories and songs. “(Santa Fe) was one of the first shows of that tour. We were finding our legs then, but I was real proud of those shows.”
2007 was a year of transition for DBT. Guitarist Jason Isbell left the band while the group was reintroducing longtime collaborator John Neff, a steel pedal guitar player. Neff — now a full-time member — brought the band some “professionalism to the proceedings that was needed” at a time when Isbell had one foot out the door.
“Ironically, John playing with us was the one thing we could all agree on,” said Hood.
Hood and Neff are joined by guitarist Mike Cooley, bassist Shonna Tucker and drummer Brad Morgan.
“The band is so strong right now,” Hood said. “All the cylinders are clicking.”
This year’s tour comes on the heels of the band’s critically acclaimed January release, “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark,” an album Hood is immensely proud of.
“It was a real magical experience making it,” he said.
Part of what contributed to the quality of the album’s finished product was the band’s reduced road schedule from nearly 200 shows a year to the 58 the band played in 2007.
“It gave us some breathing room,” Hood said. “It was nice making a record where we weren’t literally being dropped off by the bus at the studio.
“It was the easiest thing we’ve ever done and to me there’s a certain beauty to that,” he said.
Hood urges everyone who hasn’t heard “Brighter” to enjoy it on vinyl — the record version is due to be released this month.
“It truly does sound better and it sounds so much warmer,” he said.
Hood said he has had a romantic association with vinyl since he was a kid.
“There’s more to buying the record than just the music itself,” he said. “The clerks at the old record stores … the artwork and the packaging. That’s kind of lost these days.
“And they wonder why people stop buying records,” he said.
If you go
WHAT: The Drive By Truckers
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17
WHERE: Santa Fe Brewing Company, 27 Fire Place
HOW MUCH: $20 advance/$25 door. Call 988-1234.
